Fridley Felon Sentenced for Possessing a .357 Revolver

MINNEAPOLIS – Earlier today in federal court, a felon from Fridley was sentenced for possessing a .357-caliber revolver. United States District Court Judge Patrick J. Schiltz sentenced Roger Bruce Bugh, age 43, to 188 months in prison on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was indicted on February 24, 2011, and convicted on June 16, 2011.

The evidence presented at trial proved that on January 20, 2011, Bugh possessed the revolver. Specifically, he was attempting to sell it through a controlled law enforcement transaction when he was arrested. The arrest occurred in a parking lot behind an apartment complex in the 1300 block of East Seventh Street in St. Paul.

Because he is a felon, Bugh is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time. Bugh’s previous felony convictions include four in Ramsey County (two burglaries, an assault, and a theft); three in federal court in the District of Minnesota (two bank burglaries and a conspiracy to commit bank theft); one in Stearns County (burglary); one in Dakota County (burglary); and one in Pierce County, Wisconsin (burglary). Since at least three of those offenses were crimes of violence, Bugh was subject to the federal armed career criminal statute at the time of sentencing in the current federal case. That statute mandates a minimum 15-year federal prison sentence upon conviction. Given that the federal criminal justice system does not have parole, offenders spend virtually their entire sentences behind bars.

This case was the result of an investigation by the St. Paul Police Department and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Deidre Y. Aanstad and Carol M. Kayser.

Note, this case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, an initiative launched by the U.S. Justice Department in 2001 to promote a multi-jurisdictional, comprehensive approach to reducing gun crime in America. PSN provides resources to strengthen law enforcement and crime prevention partnerships that are working to make our streets and communities safer.

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Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives United States Department of Justice